Tashkent Transportation

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Like the metros in Moscow and St Petersburg on which it is based, Tashkent's underground railway system is fast, efficient, very cheap and worthy of being placed on any visitor's sightseeing list. The stations are all individually decorated in a style that reflects the name, with lots of marble, polished and sculpted stone, engraved glass, glazed ceramics, mosaics, chandeliers and handsome architectural features all part of the design.

Begun in 1973 (7 years after the earthquake) and opened in 1977, this is the only underground railway system in Central Asia - though Almaty in Kazakhstan is on track to have one soon. There are 3 lines, 36 stations and 3 interchanges. Trains arrive at between 4 and 10 minute intervals. Both trains and stations are immaculately clean and well lit. There is always a police presence on the station and safety is not a concern.

Frustrating as it is because each station really is quite spectacular, taking photographs is forbidden - I know that for certain, though the policeman who told me to put my camera away was extremely polite, didn't want a bribe or subject me to any of the other intimidating actions other travellers tell of. (The photos here are used with permission from a travel company's website)

As Uzbekistan uses Latin script, using the metro is a much simpler affair now than it was in Soviet times when Cyrillic was used.

Dear Traveller, or those who live in Tashkent,

if you need to buy air tickets, plan a journey outside Uzbekistan,
here ONLY two offices who can help.

Lufthansa Ticketing Office
Hotel InterContinental Tashkent
Tel.: 120 74 01
including Uzbekistan Airways tickets

Carlos Wagonlit Travel
132 67/8/9
All sorts of Airlines Arrangements

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Tashkent is the center for transportation to and around in Uzbekistan. I took the train from Tashkent to Bukhara leaving Tashkent at 8:00 p.m. and arriving in Bukhara around 7:00 a.m. I really enjoyed the train ride. I was lucky enough to have a bed in a two-berth compartement, which was very luxurious: clean sheets, a lunchbox, curtains. The bed was nice and comfortable. The dark wooden panels and the white curtains looked antique and reminded me of Orient Express.

Tashkent has an international airprt. There are flights to/from about 15 countries, mainly from other Centralasian cities, Russia and Europe. The airport is comparatively small. You are only allowed to enter it, when you are in the possession of a valid flight ticket. Busses and taxis have to stop about 300m in front of the entrance. So there is a distance, where oyu have to carry your luggage. There are boys, who have carts and transport your luggage for a bit of money to the entrance, where there is a security controll.

To get around it is easy to take a bus, which go almost everywhere. I was quite surprised as the busses look very much like the ones in Hannover: they have the same green colour.

There is also Central Aisa's only underground, which is very nice an dfast. The stations are beautifully designed.

Of course you can also take a taxi.

Tashkent’s airport is located only 7 km from the city centre, and handles both international and domestic flights. We arrived here at 3.30 AM after a long journey, having had to change from a direct Uzbekistan Airlines flight to an Aeroflot one via Moscow only a few weeks before our holiday. This was apparently because the European Union refused to renew Uzbekistan Airlines’ license on safety grounds, which after our domestic flight with them to Khiva I understand!

The quality you need most in dealing with customs and other procedures here is patience, followed closely by sharp elbows ;) I’ve described these in some detail on my Uzbekistan page, but to summarise here: after passport checks and collecting your bags (both of which will take some time) you’ll need to fill in a customs declaration form in duplicate. This asks for information about you, your journey and (in some detail) the value of what you are bringing into the country, including all currencies. Next you proceed through customs, where your bags will be X-rayed as if you were leaving already. Locals arriving on our flight had obviously cleaned all the electrical goods stores in Moscow, and this is where the sharp elbows come in as queuing is unheard of.

We eventually made it through almost an hour and a half after landing. As we were travelling with a group we were met by the ever-helpful Marat and whisked to our hotel where we finally made it to bed at 5.45 AM ;)

If you’re not on a tour, there are taxis available even at that time of night but be sure to agree a price beforehand as when you’re tired and newly arrived in a country it’s all too easy to be taken in by the many unofficial “taxi drivers” who frequent the airport. It shouldn’t cost more than $10 from airport to city centre so challenge anyone who wants to charge more. Alternatively if you arrive at a more civilised hour, buses connect with the metro to reach most central destinations.

I was looking for an English speaking travel agent to ask him about travelling in Uzbekistan cheaply. This guy was working in Abda Travel Company (that was the name of the travel agency) and he was helpful so i thought i should share this information with you all.

Mr. Sanjar Khalmuradov
Mobile: +998 (maybe u have to add 71) 1558867

Office Address: Ground floor, Tashkent Palace Hotel
56 Buyuk Turon Street, Tashkent.

URL: http://www.abdatravel.uz

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Tashkent’s airport is located south of town, approx. 4 km off the city centre (Timur park). It is divided into national (east) and international (west) parts. Both don’t have very much of shopping or restaurant option (or I was too blind to find them), so be prepared.
The shopping possibilities are not much more than small kiosks, but you get water, soft drinks, cigarettes and some overpriced souvenirs. I did not see a duty free shop, although the map lists one.
Restaurants are mor of snack bars with sandwiches and sweets and the hard stuff of course (vodka, lol).

Usbekistan Airways has several international, national and CIS flights – all info see weblinks below:

Uzbekistan Airways International Flights

Uzbekistan Airways National Flights

Uzbekistan Airways CIS Flights

Map of Arrival Hall of Tashkent Airport

Map of Departure Hall of Tashkent Airport